Karl's pride in Dons

A lot has changed at stadiummk over the past 12 months, with various developments nearing completion both on and off the field.

And while most of the changes have occurred outside the ground, there have also been many improvements on the inside at MK1.

With a state-of-the-art Lecture Theatre now up and running and purpose-built offices for recruitment, coaching and the academy all in place things are starting to come together for Karl Robinson’s side, as they look to build a successful promotion push to the Championship.

And Robinson, now almost half-way through his third full-season as Dons boss, is unsurprisingly proud of the Football Club that he has been a part of for over four years heading into this weekend’s FA Cup tie with AFC Wimbledon.

Speaking to the media, the Liverpudlian said: “I feel immensely proud to be the manager of Milton Keynes Dons Football Club. It hit me yesterday how much has changed in the past year or so when I was speaking with our Club Secretary who has been on maternity leave for the past twelve months.

“When she left us, there was myself, her and John (Gorman) all crammed into my office and that was that. Now, twelve months on, we have a wonderful Lecture Theatre, separate offices for the manager and secretary as well as rooms for our coaching, recruitment and academy departments.

“We’ve also got two gyms, a medical room which has facilities that would rival anybody, various meeting rooms along the corridor and a decorated tunnel which is now filled with pride and passion. Outside we now have the inside windows of the hotel rooms up which makes this magnificent stadium look all that much better – this Club makes me very proud.”

But it’s not only the stadium that makes the 32-year-old manager so proud, but the hard-work and determination of his players who, he assures, will give everything they’ve got this Sunday as they look to progress into the Third Round of the FA Cup with Budweiser.

“We've been in until late every night, as we always are and then we’ll be in early in the mornings as well to make sure the team is fully prepared for the challenge this game is going to through at us; in all that, the supporters and the friends and families associated with this Club can be proud.

“We won’t leave anything to chance in this game. If we get beat for not playing well, I’ll take it because that’s football. But we will not lose a football match through lack of effort or understanding and that’s something we should all feel pride in.

“I’ve come to know some of these players for an awful long time and I’ve also gotten to know their families too. I’ve known Semy (Jon Otsemobor) since he was ten and so I know his Mum as well because she used to take him and my bother to football when they were younger.

“I coached Pottsy (Darren Potter) from a young age and I’ve also worked with Dean Lewington for about five or six years so I’ve gotten to know the families really well and I’m sure that they will be very come Sunday because this team is going to take part in a very historic football match and they give everything to it.”